Austal Launches Offshore Crew Transfer Vessel
Austal Australia launched Hull 392, a 70m offshore crew transfer vessel for Caspian Marine Services (CMS) of Azerbaijan, at the company’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. Following the contract award in June 2015, construction commenced in October. In parallel with the forward hull module fabricated at Austal Philippines in Balamban, Cebu, the stern hull module and superstructure were constructed at Austal Australia. In March 2016 the forward hull was transported to Henderson where the superstructure and stern were connected.
The 30 knots, 150 passengers catamaran features a 400m2 cargo deck and is configured to allow walk to work crew transfers between vessel and offshore installations, via an Ampelmann platform. Based on a design by Incat Crowther, the vessel, named Rashid Behbudov, is on schedule for delivery to CMS Q3 2016, following final fit-out and completion of sea trials.